Video Lecture Rapid Cycle PCR, Real Time Analysis, and Hi-Res Melting
(2008 AMP Award Keynote Lecture)

Carl Wittwer, MD, PhD, inventor of the LightCycler® system and high-resolution melting analysis, received the 2008 Association for Molecular Pathology's (AMP) Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics. This lecture is based on Dr Wittwer's keynote presentation in Grapevine, Texas on the occasion of the AMP award. He shares his personal story of inventing rapid PCR, real-time PCR with SYBR Green, melting analysis with FRET probes, and high-resolution melting analysis.

Originally presented February 9th, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lecture Presenter

Carl T. Wittwer, MD, PhD Carl T. Wittwer, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Utah
Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah
Medical Director, ARUP Laboratories

Dr. Carl Wittwer received his PhD from Utah State University and his MD from the University of Michigan. Dr. Wittwer's research focuses on technique and instrument development in molecular diagnostics. He is the inventor of rapid-cycle PCR, and real-time monitoring of PCR including SYBR Green I, hybridization probes, and melting analysis. The LightCycler® system is one of Dr Wittwer's creations, and is used worldwide with over 5,000 units placed by Roche. Portable versions of his real-time PCR platform are used by the US government to detect biologic weapons. His current research is focused on high-resolution (Hi-Res) DNA melting analysis, including methods (genotyping without probes, mutation scanning, identity matching), instruments (HR-1 and LightScanner) and software development. He is board certified in anatomic pathology and clinical pathology, and serves as Medical Director for Flow Cytometry at ARUP Laboratories, Chief Science Officer at Idaho Technology Inc, and Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Chemistry. Details of Dr Wittwer's work can be seen at http://dna.utah.edu.

Objectives

After this presentation, attendees will be able to:

  • Understand the development of rapid PCR methods
  • Know the difference between real-time PCR and continuous monitoring of PCR
  • Be able to recall 3 methods of homogeneous genotyping without labeled probes
  • Know the characteristics of high-resolution melting analysis

Sponsored by:

University of Utah School of Medicine and ARUP Laboratories